Pritzker vetoes bill aimed at protecting warehouse workers from quota penalties

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Gov. JB Pritzker vetoed a bill that would have protected warehouse workers from punishments for failing to meet quotas or using the restroom.

Pritzker said the Warehouse Worker Protection Act was too vague on who would be covered by it and said the process for enforcing the policy is unclear.

“In this tight budget year and in the face of unpredictable enforcement and funding from the federal government, it is critical that advocates, legislators and my administration work together to ensure any new labor laws are straightforward to implement and do not create a risk of legal challenges,” Pritzker said. 

“I am also charging the Illinois Department of Labor with streamlining and prioritizing resources to build a field enforcement team that can respond quickly and effectively to dangerous conditions, lack of meal and rest breaks, and other concerns in warehouses,” Pritzker added. 

The bill passed the House with bipartisan support from 79 lawmakers in January, meaning it could have enough support to break the 71 vote threshold needed to override the governor’s veto.

Thirty-six votes are needed to override a veto in the Senate, where the bill received 35 votes when it passed in January.